Gotit dice game

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a dice game which includes a plurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set up rules (method) is applied by the players in determining the manner in which the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each having six (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writing utensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwing of the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used. The game includes rounds of each player taking turns rolling the dice up to three times to determine a best score for that turn and placing that turn&#39;s score into a scoring box for either sets, combinations, or sequences. Optionally, a player may elect to use up to three available strikes to extend a turn by taking up to three additional rolls for each strike used in an attempt to achieve a combination of six of a kind, referred to here as a “GOTIT.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of entertainment, morespecifically to playing a game having dice and multiple score cards forkeeping track of the performance of the various players.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dice games are well-known forms of entertainment and are well known inthe art. Various games are well known and have been around for a verylong time. However, sometimes it is desirable to have a game that isdifferent from what has been commonly available. This invention solvesthat problem by providing a unique game that allows a player to attemptto accumulate a high score by using judgment and skill in the selectionof results of dice throws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior arts by providing a means of entertainment that includes aplurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set uprules (method) is applied by the users in determining the manner inwhich the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each havingsix (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writingutensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwingof the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clearfrom its description in the specification that follows and from thenovel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims.Therefore, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustratedin the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of theembodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, suchdrawings and description, as well as this Summary of the Invention,disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may bepracticed and are not limiting on the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The FIGURE is an illustration of a score card that may be used tomaintain one or more players' score in the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior arts by providing a means of entertainment that includes aplurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set uprules (method) is applied by the users in determining the manner inwhich the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each havingsix (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writingutensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwingof the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used.

The FIGURE is an illustration of a score card 100 that may be used tomaintain one or more players' score in the preferred embodiment of theinvention. Using this score card 100, a player keeps track of his scoreby placing the result of individual throws into a first scoring column102. A plethora of scoring boxes are provided corresponding to a similarplurality of rows that intersect with the first scoring column 102.While the exemplary score card 102 has an abundance of scoring boxes,not all of those illustrated are required in order for a player to keepscore. However, the additional scoring boxes are helpful in providingsub-totals that are, in turn, used to calculate a grand total.Alternatively, however, the grand total may be derived by omitting thesub-totals and simply adding the individual scoring boxes in aparticular column.

The preferred embodiment of the game utilizes six (6) traditional dice,as noted above, and the scoring card illustrated in the FIGURE.Additionally, the player may use a pen or pencil to write on the scorecard, the indicated throw cup to aid in the throwing process, and,optionally, the playing surface is level, though this is surely not arequirement of the invention. The players themselves may select theplaying surface and may, optionally, prefer throwing dice onto anenclosed surface such as the interior of a game box so that the dice donot role off the surface.

As with all games, the present invention includes an object of the game.This invention is a method of playing a strategy game where each playerattempts to accumulate a high score by using multiple throws of theindicated dice to the player's best advantage. The player must make aselection of which parts, if any, of a dice throw the player wishes tokeep and which part, if any, the player wishes to re-throw. In order tomake that selection, the player must review the results of a throw andjudge what combination of dice the player should attempt to achievebased on the previous throw. Once the player has made a decision as tothe player's immediate goal (attempted combination of dice), the playerthen leaves the dice that would be helpful to creating the desiredcombination, picks up the remainder of the dice, and re-throws thepicked up dice. It is not necessary for the player to declare hisimmediate goal and, in fact, the player may change his goal after asubsequent roll of the dice.

The player may stop throwing dice after the first, second, or thirdattempts, at the discretion of the player. Once the player has stoppedthrowing the dice for a turn, points are awarded based on thecombination of dice actually achieved by the player. The score is placedon the score card 102 and the next turn begins. If more than one playeris playing, the turn passes to the next player and the process repeatsitself until each player has filled in all scoring boxes with either theresult of a throw or a zero.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each player (if more thanone player) throws all six dice to determine the first player. The totalof the six dice are added and the player with the lowest score will gofirst. Play will proceed with each subsequent turn passing to thecurrent player's left which allows play to rotate clockwise around thegroup of players.

A player is allowed to place a score into one of three categories, i.e.,Sets, Combinations, and Sequences. A set is simply one or more dicethrown by the player that matches a desired number. For example, ifafter throwing the dice, the player decides it is advantages to take aset of the number “1,” then all “1's” visible on the top of the dicelaying on the playing surface are added together to achieve a scorewhich is then placed in the 1's scoring box 104. If the player completeshis throw with four “1's” present, then the four “1's” are addedtogether and a score of “4” is placed in the 1's scoring box 104. Ondifferent turns, the player may elect to compile scores for all setsincluding “1's,” “2's,” “3's,” “4's,” “5's,” and “6's.” The compiledscores are placed in the corresponding scoring boxes: 1's scoring box104, 2's scoring box 106, 3's scoring box 108, 4's scoring box 110, 5'sscoring box 112, and 6's scoring box 114. Once all the players have hadthe desired number of turns, the set scoring boxes 104, 106, 108, 110,112, and 114 may be totaled and the set's subtotal may be placed in theoption sets subtotal scoring box 144. In this embodiment of theinvention, if the score in the sets subtotal scoring box 144 equals 75or more points, then 40 points are awarded and recorded in the setsbonus scoring box 146. The sets subtotal scoring box 144 and the setsbonus scoring box 146 are added together and the result is placed intothe sets total scoring box 148 as well as the optional sets subtotalsummary scoring box 154.

Alternatively, the player may evaluate the throw of the player's dicethrow(s) during a turn and elect to place a score in a scoring box inthe Combinations category. In this preferred embodiment, scoring boxesare provided for the following scoring Combinations: one (1) pair; two(2) pair; three (3) pair; three (3) of a kind; three (3) of a kind andone (1) pair; three (3) of a kind plus another three (3) of a kind; four(4) of a kind; four (4) of a kind plus one (1) pair; five (5) of a kind;six (6) of a kind; and “trash.” Trash is simply the score achieved bythe player during a failed attempt to achieve a usable combination.

Each of these combinations is scored as the sum of all six diceremaining at the end of the player's turn, except for five (5) of a kindwhich receives a score of fifty and six (6) of a kind. A combination ofsix (6) of a kind is considered a “GOTIT” and provides the player ascore of 100. Score's for combinations of one pair are placed into theone pair scoring box 116, two pair into the two pair scoring box 118,three pair into the three pair scoring box 120, three of a kind into thethree of a kind scoring box 122, three of a kind plus one pair into thethree of a kind plus one pair scoring box 124, three of a kind plusanother three of a kind into the three of a kind plus three of a kindscoring box 126, four of a kind into the four of a kind scoring box 128,four of a kind plus one pair into the four of a kind plus one pairscoring box 130, five of a kind into the five of a kind scoring box 132,six of a kind into the GOTIT scoring box 134 and trash placed into thetrash scoring box 136. The individual scores within the Combinationscategory are added together and the result is placed into theCombination subtotal scoring box 150 as well as the Combinationssubtotal summary scoring box 156.

The last category the player may elect to place a score into is theSequences category. A sequence is simply four, five, or six diceresulting from a player's throw which forms a consecutive sequence ofnumbers. For example, a four dice sequence may be dice forming thefollowing consecutive sequences: 1234, 2345, 3456. A five dice sequencemay be dice forming the sequence 12345 or 23456. And, the six dicesequence is a dice throw that results in the sequence 123456. If aplayer achieves a four dice sequence, a score of thirty points is placedinto the four dice sequence scoring box 138. A five dice sequenceresults in a score of forty points being placed into the five dicesequence scoring box 140. And, a six dice sequence allows the player toplace fifty points into the six dice scoring box 142. These threescoring boxes 138, 140, 142 may be added and the resulting score placedinto the sequence subtotal scoring box 152 and the sequence subtotalsummary scoring box 158.

If a player fails to throw a desirable combination of dice during aturn, the player may elect to place a zero into any of the scoringboxes. Alternatively, a player may elect to not place a score into oneof the three indicated categories and, instead, take a “strike.” Ratherthan putting an undesirable score into one of the scoring boxes, theplayer may elect to place a check or other indication into one of thethree strike boxes 162. Should the player use up all three strikes andfail to achieve a set, combination, or sequence not already scoredduring the game, the player will have no choice but to place a zero intoone of the unused scoring boxes. Any unused strikes will allow theplayer to have three additional throws of the dice for each unusedstrike during the player's last turn, if the player is attempting toachieve a GOTIT (six of a kind). In an optional embodiment of theinvention, a player may utilize the unused strikes in an attempt toachieve a GOTIT during any turn by declaring that the player isattempting to do so and by placing check marks in one of the unusedstrike boxes for each extra three rolls, or part thereof, the playeruses in the player's GOTIT attempt. For example, if the player uses one,two, or three extra rolls, then that player is considered to have usedone of the available strikes. If the player uses four, five, or sixextra rolls, then the player is considered to have used two of theavailable strikes. If the player use seven, eight, or nine extra rolls,the player is considered to have used three of the available strikes.

Once all players have gone the desired number of turns, any scoringboxes which have not been filled in by a player are given a “zero” andthe subtotal scoring boxes and the summary scoring boxes are filled in.The sets subtotal summary box 154, the combinations subtotal summary box156, and the sequences subtotal summary scoring box 158 are addedtogether and the resulting score is placed into the grand total scoringbox 160. If more than one player exists, then each players' grand totalis compared against the grand totals of the other players and the playerhaving the highest score is declared the winner.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, utilizing the score card100 illustrated in the FIGURE, multiple scoring columns 102, 103 may beprovided to allow a player to play multiple games using the same scorecard 100. In alternate embodiments of the invention, a score card 100may be used to keep score for multiple players in the same game. In yetanother embodiment of the invention, a player may elect to play theGOTIT game alone and to keep score cards for games where the player hasachieved what, in the judgment of the player, is an exceptionally highscore. These individual scores may be compared against other playersfrom different games to achieve what may be considered “braggingrights.”

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and rangeof equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A method of playing a dice game comprising: providing a dice gamesystem including a plurality of dice, a playing surface suitable forreceiving the plurality of dice when thrown or dropped by one of a groupof players, and a means of keeping score; having each of the group ofplayers roll the plurality of dice and totaling the number visible onthe top of the plurality of dice to determine each of the group ofplayers' score to determine which player has the lowest score andallowing the player with the lowest score to become the first player;having the group of players play rounds by having each of the group ofplayers take turns wherein each turn is comprised of having one of thegroup of players roll the plurality of dice on the playing surface toperform a first roll and evaluate the numbers visible on the top of theplurality of dice and determine whether to accept the results of thefirst roll or to leave some of the plurality of dice on the playingsurface and to re-roll the first remainder of the plurality of dice toperform a second roll or to re-roll all of the plurality of dice toperform a second roll and further wherein the one of the group ofplayers evaluates the numbers visible on the top of the plurality ofdice after the second roll, if any, and determines whether to accept theresults of the first roll if no second roll or the second roll or toleave some of the plurality of dice on the playing surface and tore-roll the second remainder of the plurality of dice to perform a thirdroll or to re-roll all of the plurality of dice to perform a third rolland further wherein the one of the group of players evaluates thenumbers visible on the top of the plurality of dice after the thirdroll, if any, and determines a score for the numbers visible on the topof the plurality of dice resulting from the third roll, if any, or thesecond roll if no third roll, or the first roll if no third roll and nosecond roll and further assigns a score to the result of the turn basedon deciding to use the score for either one of a plurality of setscores, one of a plurality of combination score, one of a combination ofsequence scores, or deciding to use one of a plurality of availablestrikes to take additional rolls and making one strike unavailable foreach additional three rolls or part thereof used by the one of the groupof players, or deciding to use a score of zero if unsuccessful inachieving one of the plurality of set score, combination scores, orsequence score and the one of the group of players then makes the chosenset score, combination score, or sequence score, or strike unavailablefor subsequent turns of the one of the group of players; completing thegame when each of the group of players has completed all of the desiredrounds by either entering scores or zeros for each of the set scores,combination scores, or sequence scores; and totaling the scores for eachof the group of players to determine a winner.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the winner is the one of the group of players having the highesttotal of scores.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the turn furthercomprises the step of the one of the group of players attempting toobtain six of a kind, referred to here as a “GOTIT.”
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the group of players is comprised of a single player. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein the scores are placed on a score card. 6.The method of claim 5 wherein the score card is adapted to be used formultiple games.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the score card isadapted to be used to keep score for all of the group of players for agame.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the score card is adapted to usedby a single player over multiple games.
 9. The method of claim 1 whereinthe plurality of set scores includes scores for 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's,and 6's.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of combinationscores include scores for one pair, two pair, three pair, three of aking, three of a kind and one pair, three of a kind and another three ofa kind, four of a kind, five of a kind, six of a kind, and trash. 11.The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sequence scores includescores for the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4; the sequence 2, 3, 4, 5; thesequence 3, 4, 5, 6; the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; the sequence 2, 3, 4,5, 6; and the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.